Home of English Grammar

Free Guide (Updated for 2023)

  • Home
  • Download Lessons
  • Grammar Rules
  • Online Exercises
  • Online Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Word Counter
  • Guides
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Lessons / Using relative clauses

Using relative clauses

March 27, 2013 - pdf

Relative pronouns can be used to combine two clauses into one sentence. A relative pronoun acts as the subject or object of its verb. It also serves as a conjunction connecting the two clauses.

Study the examples given below.

  • The pen has been stolen.
  • I bought it yesterday.

We can combine these two sentences using a relative pronoun. Since the noun pen refers to a thing, we can use the relative pronoun which or that.

  • The pen which I bought yesterday has been stolen. OR The pen that I bought yesterday has been stolen.

Another example is given below.

  • The house is small.
  • We live in the house.
  • The house which we live in is small. OR The house that we live in is small.

Now consider another example.

  • The boy was called Jack.
  • He cleaned the table.

Here the pronoun he refers to a person. Therefore, we use the relative pronoun who or that to combine these two clauses.

  • The boy who cleaned the table was called Jack. OR The boy that cleaned the table was called Jack.
  • The man is my uncle.
  • You met him yesterday.

Here the pronoun him is the object of the verb met. We can replace it with the object relative pronoun whom or that.

  • The man whom you met yesterday is my uncle. OR The man that you met yesterday is my uncle.

Note that whom is only used in a very formal style. In an informal style, we use who.

  • The man who you met yesterday is my uncle.
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
1,268,529 
647,105 

Check Your Grammar

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Exercises

  • Irregular Plurals September 20, 2023
  • Color Idioms September 19, 2023
  • Animal Idioms September 18, 2023
  • Less vs. Fewer September 17, 2023
  • If, Unless, Providing, As Long As September 17, 2023
  • Identifying Conditionals September 16, 2023
  • Conjunctions Quiz September 14, 2023
  • English Vocabulary Exercise September 13, 2023
  • Modals Exercise September 13, 2023

Topics

  • Adjectives
  • Adverbs
  • Business Writing
  • Commas
  • Conjunctions
  • Creative Writing
  • Difference
  • Essay Writing
  • Exercises
  • Learning
  • Lessons
  • Nouns
  • Prepositions
  • Pronouns
  • Proofreading
  • Punctuation
  • Quiz
  • Spelling
  • Style Guide
  • Teaching
  • Terms
  • Verbs
  • Words
  • Writing

Quiz

  • Can you correct these 14 basic grammar mistakes?
  • What kind of writer are you?

Copyright © 2023 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap